Page 18 - ITAtube Journal 3 2025

Interview
Matteo Braggiotti
Retrofitting ERW Lines for High‑
Performance Hollow Sections –
Insights with Matteo Braggiotti
from SMS group
This interview explores targeted retrofit
strategies that enable existing ERW lines
to produce larger-diameter, high-perfor-
mance hollow sections. The discussion
highlights key market drivers – including
product flexibility, higher throughput,
sustainability and digitalization – and
outlines practical measures such as
mechanical, hydraulic, roll-geometry
and control upgrades to meet modern
benchmarks.
We speak with Matteo Braggiotti, Vice
President Automation, Service and Digital
Solutions for Long Products at SMS group
and Chairman of SMS group Technical Ser-
vices UK. With his many years of hands-on
experience in commissioning, project
management and service, he brings a prag-
matic, application-oriented perspective on
modernization and digital solutions.
Looking ahead, we map how emerging
demand translates into concrete retrofit
steps, delivering actionable roadmaps and
measurable targets for diameter range,
throughput and efficiency that plant
owners can implement in the near term.
ITA: Matteo, given the market shift toward
larger-diameter structural tubes, which
“Global trends show
specific customer needs and market drivers
are supporting investments in ERW technol-
that manufacturers are
ogy today?
M. Braggiotti: Demand is driven by
pursuing greater
independence.”
ongoing developments in construction
and infrastructure: stadiums, skyscrapers,
bridges and urban projects require large-di-
ameter, high-quality tubes. ERW plants
Matteo Braggiotti
provide the required capacity and product
Vice President Automation,
flexibility to serve these markets efficiently.
Service and Digital Solutions for
In addition, supply chain resilience favors
Long Products at SMS group and
domestically sourced ERW tubes, reducing
reliance on imports and mitigating geopolit-
Chairman of SMS group
ical risks.
Technical Services UK.18 ITAtube Journal December 2025